CONNECT SELECT A wide selection of interesting and trending stories – rip ‘em, read ‘em and post ‘em! THURSDAY, MARCH 11th, 2021

TODAY IS…

COVID PANDEMIC FIRST ANNIVERSARY It’s been exactly one year since the World Health Organization declared the coronavirus a pandemic. Later that night, the NBA suspended its season after Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert (GO- bare) tested positive. Before it blew up in the U.S., COVID ran wild in Italy, Iran, South Korea, and Japan. HERE IS THE MOMENT ON ESPN THE NBA POSTPONED THE JAZZ/THUNDER GAME (ANNOUNCEMENT AT 7:05)

WORLD PLUMBING DAY Recognizes the important role plumbing has played in society. Just think about how gross life would be if you couldn’t flush or shower. PLUMBING FUN FACTS:  The flushing toilet was invented in 1596, by Sir John Harrington and popularized in the 1800s but Englishman Thomas Crapper - which is why we still refer to the bathroom as ‘the John’ or ‘the crapper’.  If your faucet drips just twice every minute, you’ll waste over a gallon of water in a week!  The word ‘plumber’ comes from the Latin ‘plumbum’ which means lead (like the metal they used to make pipes out of). Don’t believe us? Its chemical element symbol is Pb HERE’S THE SOUND OF A TOILET FLUSHING

NATIONAL PROMPOSAL DAY Time to pop the biggest question you’ll ever ask…in high school. ‘Will you go to Prom with me?” It’ll probably be virtual, but look on the bright side: no one will see your zits close up.

NATIONAL WORSHIP OF TOOLS DAY It’s just an excuse your wife uses to make you clean out the damn garage already! HERE’S A LINK TO THE SOUND OF A POWER DRILL

BIRTHDAYS:

 TERRENCE HOWARD, 52: Actor. He’s Lucious Lyon on “Empire” and was the original Rhodey in “Iron Man.” He also had roles in the films “Hustle & Flow,” “Big Momma’s House,” “Crash,” and Lee Daniels’ “The Butler.” CLICK HERE FOR THE “EMPIRE” THEME

 JOHNNY KNOXVILLE, 60: Actor/Writer. Best known as the star of MTV’s reality stunt show “Jackass,” he also had roles in “Men in Black 2,” “The Ringer,” and “The Last Stand.” He wrote the movie “Bad Grandpa” and voiced Leonardo in the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” film. CLICK HERE FOR THE “JACKASS” THEME

 LISA LOEB, 53: Singer/songwriter. The GRAMMY-winning singer with the cool glasses broke out with her #1 hit song “Stay (I Missed You)” in 1994. In addition to TV appearances, she writes award-winning children’s songs and books and founded her own eyewear collection. CLICK HERE FOR “STAY (I MISSED YOU)”

 JOEL AND BENJI MADDEN, 42: Musicians. The singing twin brothers with the famous wives formed the band Good Charlotte and the Madden Brothers. Joel is married to reality star Nicole Richie and Benji is married to actress Cameron Diaz. CLICK HERE FOR GOOD CHARLOTTE’S “LIFESTYLES OF THE RICH AND FAMOUS”

TRENDING/ODD

SNAKE BORN WITH 3 ‘SMILEY FACE’ EMOJIS (00:24) More proof there’s no escaping emojis…even in the wild. A snake breeder near Atlanta is selling a python that’s got three ‘smiley face’ emojis on it. And it’s a total fluke of nature. He’s selling it for 6- grand! The guy says he’s spent about 8 years breeding them for different color patterns, but it just happened that this white ball python came out with three orange spots on its side that look just like happy faces. (Hey, at least it’s not an eggplant!) CLICK HERE TO SEE IT

WILL CONGRESS ‘#FREEBRITNEY’? (00:20) Guess who might be testifying before Congress? It’s Britney, b****! A couple of members of Congress (Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla) have requested a hearing on conservatorships - you know?… the reason for the ‘#FreeBritney’ movement - and they want her to testify. Britney has had all her finances controlled by her father since a court ruled her mentally unfit 13 years ago. HERE’S BRITNEY’S ‘GIMME MORE’ (CLEAN VERSION) HERE’S THE ORIGINAL ‘GIMME MORE’ (WARNING: OPENS WITH ‘IT’S BRITNEY, BITCH)

ADOPTED WOMAN FINDS BIRTH DAD…ON FBI MOST WANTED LIST (00:17) An adopted woman finally found her biological father…unfortunately, she found him on the FBI’s most wanted list. The woman, who’s from Maryland, matched her DNA to an 84-year-old man suspected of killing his entire family back in the 70s (she was born from an earlier relationship, so she may have literally dodged a bullet). She still wants to track him down…but for a different reason.

1-IN-4 U.S. ADULTS NOW VACCINATED (00:22) According to the White House, 1-in-4 adults in the US have now received their first COVID vaccine, and they seem to be working. Cases in nursing homes are down 96 percent. The government just announced plans to buy another 100-million Johnson and Johnson shots. Those are the ones that don’t require deep freezing, making it so more shots can be given at pharmacies and doctors’ offices.

TEXAS RANGERS ALLOWING ‘FULL HOUSE’ FOR OPENING DAY (00:20) To heck with social distancing! It’ll be a full house for the Texas Rangers on Opening Day. They’re hoping to be the first pro-sports team in North America to allow a full-capacity crowd for their home opener on April 5th - that’s 40 thousand fans crammed in there. The Rangers say fans will have to wear a mask (except when they’re eating or drinking). Texas dropped the state’s mask mandate this week. CLICK HERE FOR SOME BASEBALL ORGAN MUSIC

LAW & DISORDER

GUY KILLS WIFE, PROPS HER UP LIKE WEEKEND AT BERNIE’S (00:20) A guy in California is accused of killing his wife, and then propping her up on the couch ‘Weekend At Bernie’s’ style so the kids wouldn’t think anything was wrong. Worst part?...it was Christmas. Prosecutors in his murder trial say he put sunglasses on her and sat her on the sofa while the kids opened presents, allegedly telling the kids ‘mommy was drunk.’

LOS ANGELES MURDER SUSPECT SET FREE BY MISTAKE (00:17) A big oops in Los Angeles County. A guy suspected of murder was accidentally released from jail and now he’s on the loose. At a court hearing, charges were mistakenly dismissed. Because of coronavirus rules, there was a disconnect in communication, so he was let go. He's wanted in a shooting from 2018.

WEIRD SCIENCE & TECH

STUDY: COTTON MASKS BETTER AT PREVENTING COVID SPREAD (00:20) You may wanna toss those polyester and nylon face masks; a new study has found that cotton ones work the best for keep COVID from spreading. The US government tested how well different fabrics filtered out virus particles in humid conditions (the kind you get when you breathe into a mask) and found cotton works way better than synthetic fabrics. Actually, cotton become MORE effective the wetter a mask got.

ALASKA LETS MOST GET COVID VACCINE (00:20) Easiest place to get the coronavirus vaccine? Alaska is the winner! Everyone 16 and over is eligible for the shot in Alaska. The state has the highest vaccination rate in the country at 16-percent, not that a ton of people live there; under a million. The governor is very motivated. He says the shot will get their economy back up and running ASAP.

PANDEMIC STUDY: DECLINE IN ACTIVITY A REAL DOWNER (00:18) As the days wear on during the pandemic, it may feel like you're getting less physical activity. A recent study says feeling bad about lack of exercise not only leads to extra pounds, but less sleep and more personal and emotional problems. Researchers say getting some sort of activity in can help alter your mindset.

STUDY: ALLERGY SEASON WILL ONLY MAKE VIRUS SPREAD WORSE (00:23) ‘Tis the season for allergies. The bad news is pollen may be the culprit in spreading the coronavirus more. Researchers compared virus rates to the pollen count in several countries. Where pollen rates were the worst, cases went up 10-30 percent. The study finds if your allergies are bad, you're at an increased risk of catching the virus. Doctors say keep those masks on, especially through the spring.

YOUR MONEY/SHOPPING

HOUSE PASSES STIMULUS BILL (00:17) Get ready for some more free money! The latest stimulus bill has been approved by Congress. It includes 14-hundred dollar payments for people making less than 75-grand a year, 28-hundred bucks for married couples earning less than 150K, plus more money for each kid. Checks could start going out by next week.

OPRAH INTERVIEW "CHAIRS" BY BRADY BUNCH ACTOR SOLD OUT (00:26) The patio chairs used during the Oprah interview with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were a big hit. But get this, the guy who played Peter Brady in "The Brady Bunch?" It's his company that makes the chairs, and now they're sold out. They go for about 500 bucks a pair. Christopher Knight is now in the furniture business. You can find his collection on Overstock and Amazon. Talk about a small world. Knight had a second act in reality T-V. Remember “My Fair Brady” on VH1? HERE IS THE BRADY BUNCH THEME SONG

LEGO SALES BIG IN CHINA TOO (00:18) We're not the only ones buying up Legos to be stepped on later. While American parents grew up on Legos, in China, moms and dads did not. The little bricks are a bit of a novelty. With Lego adding stores in China, the company has seen a big boost in sales there. Last year, overall revenue was up just over 20 percent.

'BUY NOW, PAY LATER' THE LATEST SHOPPING TREND (00:23) Who needs all those credit card fees when you can 'buy now and pay later' at zero interest. Shopping online doesn't mean pulling out your plastic anymore. A new survey finds 30 percent of online shoppers used an installment plan at least half the time when making purchases this year. Affirm and Klarna are two big names in the business. The research found young shoppers are using them more, and men especially.

CHANGES FOR TACO BELL & CHIPOTLE (00:27) Taco Bell is bringing back a menu item that hasn't been seen in five years. It's called the Quesalupa, and will require your loosest fitting pants! Imagine a quesadilla wrapped in a chalupa shell with a lot of cheese. It'll be on menus later this week. If Chipotle is your thing, they've announced the only way you can get their quesadillas is to order through their app or website. Fast food restaurants are pushing app based purchases through the pandemic now more than ever.

LIFE/SURVEY SAYS…

SMITHSONIAN CREATING A COVID EXHIBIT (00:20) We'll be in the history books with this pandemic, and in museums too. The Smithsonian is working on a future exhibit that'll showcase the very first coronavirus shot, a vaccination card and the scrubs worn by the nurse who administered the first dose. Also collected by the museum; the trash bags health care workers wore when protective gear was in short supply.

CHICAGO SENDS ST. PATTY'S DAY WARNING TO BARS (00:20) They may be pumped to be mask-free in Texas, but in Chicago, the liquor control commission is reminding bars not to get carried away this St. Patrick's Day. They even sent a warning letter that reads like something out of the movie "Footloose." Dancing and congregating is not allowed. Fifty- percent capacity can come in, but tables have to be kept apart.

BRIDGESTONE TIRES WILL PAY EMPLOYEES TO GET VIRUS SHOT (00:14) Bridgestone Tires really wants employees to get the COVID shot. So much so, they're gonna pay them a hundred bucks. Bridgestone's headquarters are in Nashville with facilities around the country. To be clear, the company says it is not requiring the shot.

WEEKEND/ICYMI (for Thursday and Friday morning)

CALIFORNIA THEME PARKS AND STADIUMS TO REOPEN ON APRIL 1 (00:20) Get your walking shoes and face mask ready. The state of California announced that all theme parks and stadiums will be allowed to reopen on April 1st. For now, the parks, including Disneyland, can only open to 15-percent capacity and only in-state visitors are allowed. State officials say there will also be restrictions on indoor dining and limits on indoor rides.

‘FIVE A DAY’ IS STILL SMART DIETARY ADVICE (00:22) Is “five a day” still the answer to better health? Yes, according to a new study. Five servings a day of fruits and vegetables is still key to lower mortality rates, lower blood pressure, and better lung function. However, starchy vegetables and fruit juices don’t count. Even though the “five a day” guidelines have been around for years, it seems that nearly 80-percent of Americans do not meet the daily recommendation.

CADBURY CRÈME EGGS PARTNERS WITH BEER COMPANY (00:21) How about a Cadbury Crème egg with your beer? Nope, make that IN your beer. Cadbury has partnered with Goose Island Beer to create a new Crème Egg beer in honor of the chocolate treat’s 50th anniversary. The limited edition brew has added milk, sugar, cocoa nibs and vanilla beans for a rich and creamy taste. It’s only available in the UK and on Goose Island’s website.

WARNER BROS SAYS ‘AU REVOIR’ TO PEPE LE PEW (00:22) After decades of groping uninterested female cats, Warner Brothers has finally gotten rid of Pepé Le Pew. The French cartoon skunk has been pulled from the upcoming 'Space Jam' movie, and is probably done for in cartoon reruns too. You don't have to be 'woke' to know he was super-pervy, even in 1945, when the cartoon first came out. ‘Space Jam 2: A New Legacy’ will be released this summer (July 26).

POLL FINDS WE'RE READY FOR A WOMAN AS PRESIDENT (00:22) A new poll finds more than 90-percent of Americans believe we could have the first female president within a decade. Right now, women head up governments in nearly two dozen countries. As for the MeToo Movement, over 60-percent of us believe it helped fight sexual harassment and assault. The poll also found just under half of us have no preference when it comes to a boss being male or female.

COW CUDDLING IS NOW A THING (00:17) Some of us are so hard up for a hug…cuddling with cows is now a thing. A cattle farm near Phoenix is the latest to join the weird business trend. They let people come over and snuggle with their cows. A cow cuddling session will run ya 75 bucks for an hour. And they’re already booked until July! CLICK HERE FOR THE SOUND OF A COW ‘MOOING’

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